• overview
  • strengths
  • Bilateral Agreements
  • bilateral trade
  • agencies
  • Indian Mission

US$ 15bn
FDI equity inflows from April 2000 - December 2022

US$ 84.84bn

bilateral trade during FY 2022-23

3.4mn
Overseas Indians in UAE, which is over 27 % of the total population, and includes a significant share of Blue Collar Workers

2nd

India is the 2nd largest trading partner of the UAE, while UAE is India’s third largest trading partner

2nd

UAE is the second largest economy in West Asia, after Saudi Arabia; the nation is steadily reducing dependence on oil export income

Trade

UAE is among the world's 15 20 largest exporters and 20 largest importers of commodities

2nd

UAE is the second largest export destination for India at US$ 30.1 billion for the year 2018-19

FDI

UAE’s main investments in India are in services, infrastructure, housing, renewable energy, ports and shipping,air transport and hotel and tourism and joint ventures

+1000

There are more than 1000 flights operating weekly, between India and various destinations in the UAE, the largest overseas air travel market from India

India's Exports and Imports to United Arab Emirates

es in US $ Millions

Country / Region:  U ARAB EMTS

S.No. \Year 2018-2019 2019-2020 2020-2021 2021-2022 2022-2023
1. EXPORT 30,126.73 28,853.59 16,679.54 28,044.88 31,608.79
2. %Growth -4.23 -42.19 68.14 12.71
3. India’s Total Export 330,078.09 313,361.04 291,808.48 422,004.40 450,958.43
4. %Growth -5.06 -6.88 44.62 6.86
5. %Share 9.13 9.21 5.72 6.65 7.01
6. IMPORT 29,785.33 30,256.65 26,622.99 44,833.48 53,231.66
7. %Growth 1.58 -12.01 68.40 18.73
8. India’s Total Import 514,078.42 474,709.28 394,435.88 613,052.05 714,042.45
9. %Growth -7.66 -16.91 55.43 16.47
10. %Share 5.79 6.37 6.75 7.31 7.45
11. TOTAL TRADE 59,912.05 59,110.23 43,302.53 72,878.36 84,840.45
12. %Growth -1.34 -26.74 68.30 16.41
13. India’s Total Trade 844,156.51 788,070.32 686,244.36 1,035,056.45 1,165,000.88
14. %Growth -6.64 -12.92 50.83 12.55
15. %Share 7.10 7.50 6.31 7.04 7.28
16. TRADE BALANCE 341.40 -1,403.06 -9,943.45 -16,788.60 -21,622.87
17. India’s Trade Balance -184,000.33 -161,348.24 -102,627.40 -191,047.65 -263,084.03

Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry

+971-2-621-4000

Visit Website

Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry

+971-4-228-0000

Visit Website

Federation of U.A.E. Chamber of Commerce & Industry

+971-2-621-4144

Visit Website

Indian Business and Professional Council

+971-4-332-4300

Visit Website

Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi

+971-2-449-2700

Visit Website

Address: Plot No. 10, Sector W-59/02, Diplomatic Area, Off the Airport Road, P. O. Box 4090, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.

Consulate General of India, Dubai

+971-4-397-1333

Visit Website

Address: Al Hamriya, Diplomatic Enclave
P.O. BOX 737, Dubai, U.A.E

Opportunities

Agricultural exports

    Mixtures of juices, unfermented & not cont. added spirit, whether or not co … (200990)

    agriexchange.apeda.gov.in

    Beer made from malt (220300)
    Ethyl alcohol & oth. spirits, denatured, of any strength (220720)
    Mineral waters (nat./art.) & aerated waters, not cont. added sugar/oth. swe … (220110)
    Non-alcoholic beverages other than waters of 2202.10 (not incl. fruit/veg. … (220290)
    Sparkling wine of fresh grapes (220410)
    Waters, incl. min. waters & aerated waters, cont. added sugar/oth. sweeteni … (220210)
    Whiskies (220830)
    Wine other than sparkling wine of fresh grapes, incl. fortified; grape must with fermentation prevented/arrested by the addition of alcohol, in containters of 2 l/less (220421)

    agriexchange.apeda.gov.in

    Carcasses/half-carcasses of lamb, fresh/chilled (020410)
    Carcasses/half-carcasses of sheep (excl. lamb), fresh/chilled (020421)
    Cuts & edible offal of species Gallus domesticus, frozen (020714)
    Meat of bovine animals, fresh/chilled (excl. of 0201.10), bone-in (020120)
    Meat of bovine animals, fresh/chilled, boneless (020130)
    Meat of bovine animals, frozen, boneless (020230)
    Meat of fowls of species Gallus domesticus, not cut in pieces, frozen (020712)
    Meat of goats, fresh/chilled/frozen (020450)
    Other fresh eggs: of fowls of the species gallus domesticus (040721)

    agriexchange.apeda.gov.in

    Bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits & oth. bakers’ wares n.e.s. in ch.19, whethe … (190590)
    Sugar confectionery other than chewing gum (incl. white chocolate), not con … (170490)
    Sweet biscuits (190531)

    agriexchange.apeda.gov.in

    Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume <80%vol; oth. ... (220890)

    agriexchange.apeda.gov.in

    Chocolate & oth. food preps. cont. cocoa (excl. of 1806.20-1806.32) (180690)
    Chocolate & oth. food preps. cont. cocoa, in blocks/slabs/bars, weighing 2k … (180631)
    Chocolate & oth. food preps. cont. cocoa, in blocks/slabs/bars, weighing 2k … (180632)

    agriexchange.apeda.gov.in

    Butter (040510)
    Cheese (excl. of 0406.10-0406.40) (040690)
    Fats & oils derived from milk, other than butter & dairy spreads (040590)
    Milk & cream, concentrated (excl. in powder), sweetened (040299)
    Milk & cream, concentrated (excl. in powder), unsweetened (040291)
    Milk & cream, not concentrated/sweetened, fat content by wt. >1% but not >6 … (040120)
    Milk in powder/granules/oth. solid form, fat content by wt. not >1.5% (040210)
    Milk in powder/granules/oth. solid form, unsweetened, fat content by wt. >1 … (040221)
    Processed cheese, not grated/powdered (040630)
    Yogurt (040310)

    agriexchange.apeda.gov.in

    Pasta (excl. of 1902.11-1902.20) (190230)
    Stuffed pasta, whether or not cooked/othw. prepd. (190220)
    Uncooked pasta, not stuffed/othw. prepd., cont. eggs (190211)
    Uncooked pasta, not stuffed/othw. prepd., not cont. eggs (190219)
    Waffles & wafers (190532)

    agriexchange.apeda.gov.in

    Apples, fresh (080810)
    Bananas frsh or dried (080390)
    CANE SUGAR SPECIFIED IN SUBHEADING NOTE 2 TO THIS CHAPTER: (170113)
    Carrots & turnips, fresh/chilled (070610)
    Dates, fresh/dried (080410)
    Fresh fruit, n.e.s. (081090)
    Garlic, fresh/chilled (070320)
    Grapes, fresh (080610)
    Guavas, Mangoes & Mangosteens, fresh/dried (080450)
    Lemons (Citrus limon/limonum) & limes (Citrus aurantifolia/latifolia), fres … (080550)
    Onions & shallots, fresh/chilled (070310)
    Oranges, fresh/dried (080510)
    Potatoes other than seed potatoes, fresh/chilled (070190)
    Potatoes, prepd./presvd. othw. than by vinegar/acetic acid, frozen, other t … (200410)
    Tomatoes, fresh/chilled (070200)
    Tomatoes, prepd./presvd. othw. than by vinegar/acetic acid, other than whol … (200290)

    agriexchange.apeda.gov.in

    Chickpeas (garbanzos), dried, shelled, whether or not skinned/split (071320)
    OTHER LEGUMINOUS VEGETABLES, SHELLED OR UNSHELLED, FRESH OR CHILLED (070999)

    agriexchange.apeda.gov.in

    Lentils, dried, shelled, whether or not skinned/split (071340)

    agriexchange.apeda.gov.in

    Walnuts, in shell (080231)

    agriexchange.apeda.gov.in

    Chewing gum, whether or not sugar-coated (170410)

    agriexchange.apeda.gov.in
Employment Opportunities

*Information subject to changes amid the global COVID-19 pandemic.

UAE is among the 10 most favourable relocation destinations for expat workers. Here foreigners make up over 80% of the UAE’s 9.4 million population. Employment for a foreigner in UAE requires work permit and residence visa.

India-UAE commercial relations are anchored by energy cooperation, trade, investments by UAE in India, and investments and businesses driven by Indian expatriates in UAE. The Indian population in UAE has grown to 3.3 mn, making it the largest concentration of Indian nationals outside India.

Getting a work and residency permit: https://www.government.ae/en/information-and-services/visa-and-emirates-id/residence-visa/getting-a-work-and-residency-permit

More Info: Renewal of work permit and contract Visa and Emirates ID Jobs information services Moving to the UAE Passports and travelling

    Farming, fisheries, dairy, animal husbandry

    UAE’s agriculture sector draws innovation and manpower from foreign resources in efforts to make the country sustainable in farming. The number of farms increased from 4,000 in 1971 to 35,704 in 2011, with an area of 105,257 hectares.

    Ministry of Climate Change and EnvironmentMinistry Of Human Resources & Emiratisation

    Public and private infrastructure building, maintenance

    UAE’s construction sector is expected to register a CAGR of 5.5% over 2019-24, driven by commercial and transport projects. Construction of civic infrastructure and connectivity projects has largely been supported by foreign workers at different levels in UAE.

    Ministry of Infrastructure DevelopmentMinistry Of Human Resources & Emiratisation

    Tax, accounting, banking, insurance, audit and other financial services

    The need of expert financial services has gained strength in the uAE owing to the steady strengthening of the economy. Financial services in UAE are supported by foreign workers at different capacities.

    Ministry of FinanceMinistry Of Human Resources & Emiratisation

    Doctors, nurses, radiologists, lab technicians

    Healthcare spending in the UAE is expected to rise from US$17 billion in 2017 to US$21.3 billion by 2021, as per Business Monitor International. UAE attracts large number of healthcare workers ranging from doctors to nurses and lab technicians.

    Ministry of Health & Prevention.Ministry Of Human Resources & Emiratisation

    Culinary, server, personalcare, hotel, tour and travel staffing

    The Expo 2020 Dubai expects to draw over 25 million visitors for the exposition scheduled to run from October 2020 to April 2021. The hospitality sector in UAE, ranging from hotels to tourism to personal care, employs large number of foreign workers.

    Travel and tourism SectorMinistry Of Human Resources & Emiratisation

    Software, hardware, new technology in telecoms and communications

    The UAE IT sector has grown at a CAGR of over 3% to reach a valuation of US$17.2 billion by 2016. The IT and ICT infrastructure in UAE has been set up and is supported by foreign workers.

    Digital UAE SectorMinistry Of Human Resources & Emiratisation

    Automobile to food products production

    Around 7% of Abu Dhabi’s GDP is expected to come from the manufacturing sector by 2020. The manufacturing industry in UAE, covering a range of products, draws foreign manpower.

    Ministry of Energy & Industry.Ministry Of Human Resources & Emiratisation

    Upstream oil and gas sector staffing

    The UAE is the seventh-largest oil producer in the world and the fourth largest producer of petroleum in the OPEC. UAE’s oil and gas exploration sector is a major employer and strength for the economy.

    Ministry of Energy & IndustryMinistry Of Human Resources & Emiratisation

    Downstream oil and gas processing and marketing

    The state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Co is aiming to more than double petrochemical output as part of its 2030 strategy. UAE’s petrochemicals’ sector employs many foreign workers in different capabilities.

    Ministry of Energy & Industry.Ministry Of Human Resources & Emiratisation

    Faculty positions up to uninversity

    The education space in the UAE is expected to grow from US$4.4 billion in 2017 to US$7.1 billion in 2023 as per the Boston Consulting Group. The education sector in UAE, ranging from schools to universities, draw foreign teaching staff from different disciplines.

    Ministry of EducationMinistry Of Human Resources & Emiratisation
Minerals

    Export: US 1.471 billion (AED 5.4 billion in the year 2017)

    wam.ae

    Export: Gravel and Crushed Stone-US$ 124 mn

    oec.world

    Production: 16,260,000 tons
    Export: US$ 372 million

    USGS Reportoec.world

    Production: 1.097 billion barrels (2018)

    Reserve: 105 billion STB (stock tank barrel)

    wam.ae

    Production: 700,000 tonnes (2015)

    usgs.gov

    Export: Iron Ore-US$ 55.1 million

    oec.world

    Production: 460,000 tons
    Export: US$ 1302.98 million (plastering material, Lime and Cement)

    USGS Report

    Conventional Gas

    Reserves:  273 trillion SCF (standard cubic foot)

    wam.ae

    Production: 5,300,000 tons

    USGS Reportoec.worldusgs.gov

Priority Sectors

Here are the leading sectors of opportunities for foreign investors

Top Import/ Export Items

India's top import from United Arab Emirates
  • Crude oil and natural gas
  • Petroleum and petroleum products
  • Minerals and chemicals
  • Precious metals, gems and jewelry
  • Wood and wood Products
India's top export to United Arab Emirates
  • Petroleum, chemical roducts
  • Precious metals, gems and jewelry
  • Grains, pulses, meat and seafood
  • Textile, fabrics and yarn
  • Engineering and machinery products

Bilateral Investors

Country News

India-UAE deepen ties, focus on energy, trade, connectivity

December 16, 2024

India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) held the 15th …

Read More

India calls for financial integration at BRICS summit

October 24, 2024

India reinforced its commitment to financial integration within BRICS, with …

Read More

Modi heads to Russia for BRICS Summit as global tensions rise

October 22, 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed for Russia, heading to Kazan …

Read More